Things to do in Montañita
Welcome to our list of EPIC things to do in Montañita.
As a small town located on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, Montañita is basically known by locals as a resort town, but without the expensive prices!
With an expansive beach, endless waves for surfing and a hot nightlife scene, it’s the perfect place to come for a weekend to relax and let go.
There’s also the nearby jungle which is great to explore, as well as many fishing villages and towns along the coast waiting to be discovered.
Montañita really is a perfect haven for backpackers, and from our experience, we’re pretty sure that once you’re here you’ll find it hard to leave!
Backpacking Montañita, Ecuador
In this guide we’ll explore Montañita, the best things to see and do here, the best places to stay as well as our own top tips for a backpacking trip here.
Is Montañita Worth Visiting?
Once a sleepy beach town, Montañita is now a very popular destination for backpackers to South America to come and visit.
This is largely due to its large beach, where many come to lounge on and to swim it’s warm Pacific waters (remember we’re close to the Equator here).
Montañita is also a popular hub for surfing, and there are waves for everyone here regardless if you’re a pro or just starting out (there’s lots of surf schools located here).
Whilst there are other coastal towns close, Montañita exceeds in that it has lots of cheap hostels throughout the town, and also tonnes of entertainment options at your fingertips.
Lost Beach Club is one of the best here, and is often rated as one of the hottest nightclubs in Latin America. Those who are in Guayaquil and only have a short time will love this day tour to Montañita. Not only can you go surfing and visit the best sites here, you’ll also visit other awesome towns such as Olón.
Montañita is also a great to base yourself for exploring the more wild coast.
Towns such as Ayampe and Puerto Lopez are easily accessible by the buses that run up and down the coast and make for perfect day trips.
How to Get to Montañita
Whilst there are no airports near the town, it’s still easy to get to Montañita.
Almost all of the major cities in Ecuador have direct buses heading here, so just hop on an overnight bus and you’ll be here by early morning.
The easiest way is to fly into the port city of Guayaquil, which is located some 175km south of the beach town. From here you can take a bus which is around 3 hours to Montañita.
You can also fly into Quito (tends to be cheaper when arriving internationally) to take a direct bus which takes around 6 (ish) hours.
If coming from the northern coast (such as Manta), the bus will take roughly around 3 or 4 hours. You can also organize a shuttle directly from the airport if you want to avoid all hassle.
Best Things to do in Montañita
Montañita is full of great things to do and see. Below we’ll cover some of the best, which also include some day trips you can take along the coast.
Beaches in Montañita
The large expansive beach is one of the highlights of a trip to Montañita. Whilst it divides opinion (with many preferring to head elsewhere), in our opinion this stretch of coast is perfect for taking in the rays and enjoying some late-night drinks.
The other benefit is how close it is with the best hostels on the beachfront, meaning you can get from-bed-to-the-sand in just a couple of minutes.
There’s some decent waves here as well, which is good for both surf pros and those just starting out (ask locals for the best time of day for each).
Along the beach you’ll find lots of pop up tents that rent surfboards and wetsuits by the hour, for as little as $5 each person. Those into adventure thrills can also go paragliding, for the most memorable views over the town and surrounding Ecuadorean Coast.
Nightlife in Montañita
By night Montañita transforms from a chill vibes beach destination into a party hub.
Along the main strip, you’ll find loads of bars and nightclubs, with most staying open way into the following morning.
A popular nightclub to head to is the Lost Beach Club. Considered one of the best nightclubs in Latin America, the fuse of techno and dance music along with many World-famous DJs playing here makes it Montañita’s top choice.
There are more chill spots such as Ayampe and Olón, however, Montañita overall is the best and can cater for most music tastes.
Hike up to the Mirador
Located on the extreme east of Montañita beach, you’ll find a few cliffs that divide the town from the neighboring town of Olón.
The path starts by the rocks on the beach, and at the top you’ll find some stunning views over the coast.
It’s one of the best places to come and watch the crazy crimson and red colored sunsets that are common here on the Pacific coast. We recommend bringing a solid GoPro to capture your very best moments here, as well as when surfing and having other memorable times in Montañita
Our only suggestion (or warning) is find out when the high and low tides are, as sometimes the lower section of the path can become one with the sea.
Explore towns (Ayampe & Puerto Lopez)
The coast is full of low-key towns with different vibes going for them. Our favorite two and most recommendable are the two above.
Ayampe is around a 30 minute bus ride from Montañita (the green bus that passes through town every hour), and is home to arguably the most stunning beach on Ecuador’s Pacific coast.
Here you can also take a kayak out to explore some of the close-by islets, with their beautiful waters perfect for snorkeling.
Puerto Lopez is a fishing town that is around an hour from Montañita (using the same green bus), and is the gateway into Isla de la Plata.
You can take a ferry tour from the port which explores the island, and also where you can see many rare birds such as the Blue-footed boobies.
Also close to Puerto Lopez is Los Frailles beach, just another stunning beach waiting to be explored with its more wild setting and natural caves.
It’s essential to bring a high-quality day pack with you when exploring this coast, and we think this Backpack by Peak Design does the job perfectly.
Where to Stay in Montañita
Montañita is pretty small, which means everything is easily within walking distance. From one end of the strip (touristy part) to the other will take less than 5 minutes.
The area around the Dharma hotel (the Asian-style hotel that really stands out among everything else) is the best, with all the amenities close by and the beach within its footsteps.
We recommend staying at the My Little House Surf & Backpacker Hostel, which is behind the Dharma and just two blocks from the beach.
Prices are very cheap here, and there’s a lively feel to the place where it’s easy to meet lots of other travelers and get stuck right in.
Best Time to visit Montañita
We’ve spoken a lot about the best time to visit South America on this blog (George is absolutely obsessed with checking the weather when we travel).
Despite being located close to the Equator, Montañita has a typical weather pattern of a tropics destination, with levels of rainfall fluctuating depending on the season.
January and February are the hottest months of the year to visit, with average temperatures of 79°F, highs of up to 84°F and lows of between 73-75°F.
Rainfall is low here, with between 40-70mm falling each month, making it a good time to visit for beach weather.
March until June has similar average temperatures of around 78-80°F, with the same highs and lows. The only difference is the slightly increased levels of rainfall, which start around 60mm in March and rise to around 80mm in June.
July and August is also warm with averages of 77°F, although rainfall peaks at this time with between 130-150mm falling throughout each.
September until December sees a cooler period, with averages of 77°F and lows of down to 72°F. Rainfall also reduces to between 50-70mm per month, similar to the start of the year.
Given rainfall can come thick and fast in Montañita, it’s worth bringing a good waterproof Poncho with you
Montañita Backpacking Tips
Here we’ll share some of our best tips for exploring Montañita, based on our own time spent exploring this beautiful beach-side town.
- First and foremost, when arriving you’ll want to browse many of the hostels. There are actually some not listed that are beautiful and at a low price! You can also ask for a discounted rate if planning to stay for a while, and also see if they include any extra packages such as discounted surf lessons (there’s lots of cheap hostels here so each will try and have some competitive edge which is good for you the backpacker).
- Whilst the town is great for surfing, beach time and partying, make sure to hop on buses and explore the nearby region! The Dos Mangas waterfalls are a great hiking trip, and there are also the beautiful beaches of Los Frailes and Ayampe. You can even do a Paragliding Experience if you’re feeling brave. Another great visit is the boat tour to the Isla de la Plata, where you can go see many exotic birds and marine wildlife.
- We suggest spending 4 Days in Montañita. The best time would be to head here on a Thursday and leave Tuesday, so you’d have both the hectic weekend to enjoy the nightlife as well as the early tranquil week for exploring close-by destinations. However, don’t complain if you end up staying much longer than planned, which is what happened to George!
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Things to do in Montañita
And that’s all for our backpacking guide to Montañita! Located on the Pacific coast, this lively town is one of the most popular to visit.
With its tranquil beaches yet hectic nightlife, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway from some of the more urban cities of Ecuador.
It’s also abundant in nature, with the nearby jungle great to hike in as well as many cute yet less visited fishing towns to explore.
In this guide, we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about Montañita. This includes the best things to see and do, the best time to visit, where to stay and much, much more.
We hope you enjoyed reading this guide! If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Be sure to read our full backpacking South America guide for more tips!
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